Somali political analyst criticises appointment of NISA director

Jama Gallad: “The appointment of Mahad Salad shows that there is an element of making decisions without deliberations.”

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — Jama Gallad, an influential SSTV, a YouTube news channel, has faulted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for the appointment of Mahad Salad as the new director of National Intelligence and Security Agency.

“I don’t question Mahad’s integrity. What I question is his suitability for the post. He is a member of the incumbent President’s party— Union for Peace and Development Party. NISA under Fahad Yasin served the interests of the former administration; it officers behaved like mafias attacking critics of the government. Mahad will emulate his predecessor. NISA cannot operate under the guidelines of a political party” Gallad said.

Parallel army: Mahad Salad, the new director of NISA, handing over camels to National Salvation Forces on the outskirts of Mogadishu in 2021.

Mahad Salad was fundraiser for National Salvation Forces, a splinter group of the the divided Somalia National Army, loyal to a motley of politicians who in 2021 united under the rubric of “opposition”. He raised camels to be slaughtered for soldiers who mutinied to side with the opposition forces opposing the controversial mandate extension for the former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.

A Wikipedia entry of the new NISA director.

“The appointment of Mahad Salad as the new NISA director shows that there is an element of making decisions without deliberations” Jama added.

© Puntland Post, 2022